Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

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Vegan Broccoli Salad- Chopped broccoli florets, matchstick broccoli stems, sweet apple pieces, red onion, raisins, and sunflower seeds are tossed in a sweet yet tangy dressing made with apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. This salad is fresh, simple to make, and surprisingly delicious!

What do apples and broccoli have in common? They're both quintessential fall foods! Apples are perfect for apple pie and sauce and can be eaten raw or cooked. Broccoli is a great side dish to any meal and is a good source of fiber and vitamins C and K. But what do you get if you combine the two healthy autumn essentials? Delicious apple broccoli salad!

I know it's an odd combination, but trust me, it's delicious! This vegan broccoli salad is incredible because it's full of flavor and texture. The apples add a sweetness that contrasts perfectly with the broccoli, and the dressing gives it all a tangy kick. Plus, it's really easy to make, so you can put it together in no time. Serve it at your next fall potluck or barbecue, and watch it disappear!

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love This Vegan Broccoli Salad Recipe

Fresh- Light and refreshing side dish with raw broccoli, crisp apples, and a sweet and tangy dressing.

Easy To Make- Apple broccoli salad comes together quickly and easily with just a few simple ingredients.

Perfect For Any Occasion- Broccoli apple salad is perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or any other gathering. It's also great for meal prep and makes a delicious lunch or dinner side dish.

Beautiful- The bright colors and vibrant flavors are sure to please any crowd.

Sweet And Tangy- The dressing for this salad is made with apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. It's the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

Equipment Needed To Make Homemade Apple Broccoli Salad

  • Cutting Board
  • Knife
  • Large Bowl
  • Medium Bowl
  • Large Spoon
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons

What Is In Broccoli Salad?

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For The Salad:

  • Fresh Broccoli
  • Apples
  • Red Onion
  • Raisins
  • Shelled Sunflower Seeds

For The Dressing:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Minced Garlic
  • Maple Syrup
  • Salt
  • Pepper

How To Make Apple Broccoli Salad At Home

To make homemade broccoli salad, you'll want to break the process down into two parts, the salad and the dressing for the salad.

Wash your broccoli under running water, cut the florets from the stalks, and set the stalks aside. Cut the florets into small pieces and place them into a large bowl.

Cut the hard outer skin off for the stems to get to the more tender inside and discard the skin. Cut the inner stems into matchstick-like pieces. Add the matchstick broccoli pieces to the large bowl. Dice your red onion and apples and add them to the bowl with the broccoli, raisins, and sunflower seeds.

Now it's time to make the dressing. Add all the dressing ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk until well combined. Once the dressing is mixed well, pour it over the broccoli apple salad, and toss it, coating everything evenly.

Chill the broccoli salad in the refrigerator until it is ready to serve.

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What to Serve/Pair With Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad

This delicious vegan broccoli salad is perfect for bringing to a potluck, bbq, or holiday gathering. It's also a great side dish for a weeknight dinner. Serve it with grilled tofu, tempeh, or seitan. It could also be served alongside black bean burgers, lentil soup, or roasted cauliflower.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

While this sweet and tangy salad is delicious as written, there are a few substitutions and additions you could make.

Nuts- If you don't have sunflower seeds on hand or are looking for a different flavor, try using chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans. You could also use roasted peanuts for a bit of a salty crunch.

Fruit- I like the sweetness that apples add to this salad, but if you don't have apples, you could use pears, grapes, or mandarin oranges.

Veggies- You could also add in other chopped veggies such as carrots, celery, or radishes.
Cheese- For a great cheesy flavor, add vegan crumbled feta cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, or sprinkle on some nutritional yeast.

How To Reheat & Store Broccoli Apple Salad

This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Broccoli apple salad is best served cold or at room temperature when you're ready to eat it; give it a good stir and enjoy!

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Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad FAQs

What can I use in place of apple cider vinegar?

You could use white or red wine vinegar if you don't have apple cider vinegar.

Can I freeze homemade vegan broccoli salad?

I do not recommend freezing this salad as the broccoli will get mushy when thawed. If you have leftover broccoli that you won't be able to eat within a few days, I suggest chopping it up and storing it in the freezer so you can use it for other recipes like stir fry or soup.

📋 Recipe

Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (4)

Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad

Ligia Lugo

Broccoli, apple, onion, raisins, and sunflower seeds mixed in a sweet, tangy dressing made with apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. It's startlingly delicious!

Print Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Lunch

Cuisine Salad

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 343 kcal

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 4 cups broccoli cut up and shredded (about 2 medium heads)
  • 3 apples of your choice, diced right before you add them to the salad, I used Gala
  • ¼ cup onion red, diced
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup sunflower seeds shelled

For the Dressing:

  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup you could use up to 2 tablespoons
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

To prepare the salad:

  • Wash broccoli under running water.Cut the florets from the stalks and set the stalks aside.

  • Cut the florets into very small pieces. See the photo for a visual. Place in a large bowl.

  • Cut the hard outer skin off of the stems to get down to the tender inside. Discard the outer peelings.

  • Cut the tender inside stems into matchsticks. Or if you have a mandolin that would work well too. If your food processor has an attachment that will cut the stems into long strips (not grated) then that would work also. Scissors work too. The idea is to have very small sticks of raw broccoli stems. They will hold their shape.

  • Add to the large bowl along with the florets.Add the apples, red onion, raisins and sunflower seeds.

    Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (5)

To make the dressing:

  • In a medium bowl whisk together all of the dressing ingredients.

    Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (6)

  • Add the dressing to the salad and toss.Chill until ready to serve.

    Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (7)

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 317mgPotassium: 485mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 425IUVitamin C: 59.9mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1.5mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze raw broccoli slaw? ›

Can you freeze a bag of broccoli slaw? Yes, you can freeze broccoli slaw mix, but we'd recommend freezing it before you add any dressing. And go ahead and protect the broccoli slaw by storing it in a freezer bag before it goes into the deep freeze. The slaw will last in the fridge up to 6 months.

How do you blanch broccoli? ›

To blanch the broccoli, bring a pan of water to the boil. Have a bowl of iced water ready, along with a tray lined with kitchen paper. Cook the broccoli in the boiling water for 2-3 mins. Remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon and plunge into the bowl of iced water, then leave for another 2-3 mins.

Why can't you freeze coleslaw? ›

The coleslaw that is coated in mayonnaise will not freeze well, as it tends to split. Therefore, if you want to freeze coleslaw, you can store the one with oil and vinegar-based dressing.

How do you store raw broccoli in the freezer? ›

Lay the broccoli in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined sheet tray or plate. Place in the freezer until completely solid, 1 to 2 hours. Once frozen, transfer to a plastic container or resealable freezer bag. The broccoli should stay fresh-tasting and free of freezer burn for 6 to 8 months.

Can I freeze broccoli without blanching? ›

However, you can still freeze broccoli without blanching it first. Just cut it into florets and transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Seal, removing as much air as possible, and label. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months, but use within 1 month for best results.

What happens if you don't blanch broccoli? ›

If you don't blanch your broccoli, it will turn color and acquire a bitter taste. You can either stick it in boiling water for three minutes to blanch, or steam it for five minutes, whichever you choose.

Do I need to blanch broccoli before freezing? ›

Broccoli — florets and stems — must be blanched for effective freezing. If you freeze it raw, you'll wind up with bitter, drab green, shriveled stems. Blanching preserves the bright green color and tasty flavor. You can either blanch in boiling water for three minutes or steam for five minutes.

Is it better to freeze broccoli raw or cooked? ›

Broccoli — florets and stems — must be blanched for effective freezing. If you freeze it raw, you'll wind up with bitter, drab green, shriveled stems. Blanching preserves the bright green color and tasty flavor. You can either blanch in boiling water for three minutes or steam for five minutes.

Can you freeze raw cabbage slaw? ›

You can freeze raw cabbage for use in a cooked dish like cabbage casserole or cabbage rolls, but it won't work well for coleslaw. The secret is to make freezer coleslaw! You get a very tasty coleslaw, and the defrosted cabbage will be crisp and delicious.

How long does broccoli slaw last in the fridge? ›

Broccoli slaw will keep in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Does broccoli slaw go bad? ›

Home-made broccoli slaw can also last up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. If you decided to freeze it, broccoli slaw can last for 12 months but it might get really soggy when defrosted.

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